According to the publisher, the book surveys "the cultural phenomenon that launched the careers of artists such as Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Whitney Houston, Lenny Kravitz, LL Cool J, and Aretha Franklin." ?uestlove's research included "more than 1,100 episodes of the show and exclusive access to its archives to present hundreds of never-before-seen photographs and the riveting, unfiltered story of how [creator/host] Don Cornelius revolutionized black entertainment."

Soul Train covers from the beginning of the show in 1971 until 1993, when Cornelius stopped hosting. "Soul Train" continued to air until 2006; Cornelius died in 2012.

The book contains over 350 photos that captured "the larger-than-life characters who defined ["Soul Train"]: the great host Don Cornelius, the extraordinary musicians, and the people who lived the phenomenon from the dance floor," according to Amazon. The preface was written by actor/musician Nick Cannon while a foreword was penned by Gladys Knight.